MPs back landmark assisted dying bill to give some terminally ill people the right to end their lives – as it happened

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who proposed the landmark private member's bill on assisted dying. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images

5.32pm GMT

Afternoon summary

• MPs have taken a historic step toward legalising assisted dying in England and Wales after backing a bill that would give some terminally ill people the right to end their lives. As Jessica Elgot, Eleni Courea and Rowena Mason report, the Commons backed the bill by 330 votes in favour to 275 against, a majority of 55. Keir Starmer and the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, voted in favour while Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, voted against. The private member’s bill, brought by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would give terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the right to die once the request has been signed off by two doctors and a high court judge. Campaigners in favour of the change said the vote was a momentous step forward. Esther Rantzen, who galvanised the debate on assisted dying last December when she revealed she had terminal lung cancer, said the bill offered everyone “equal choice”. But some of the MPs who were voting for the bill said that, if they are not happy with what emerges after the bill gets revised in committee and at report stage, they could vote against at third reading. And Care Not Killing, the group campaigning against the bill, said it was “hugely encouraged that the more MPs hear about assisted suicide and euthanasia the more they turn against changing the law”. Here is a guide from the Institute for Government to what comes next in the parliamentary process. And here is a guide to what comes next from Kiran Stacey that focuses on the wider politics. (See 3.57pm.)

• Louise Haigh was advised to resign by No 10 for a possible breach of the ministerial code, after she did not declare her spent conviction for fraud to the government when she became a cabinet minister.

Updated at 5.36pm GMT

5.21pm GMT

Luke Tryl, UK director for the More in Common campaign group, points out that it would only take 28 MPs supporting the bill today to change their mind for the bill to fall at third reading.

Reasonable majority, at top of what projected. But will only take 28 MPs to be dissatisfied with what emerges from committee/report stage for Bill to fall at 3rd reading. Debate continues & if/whether meeting public’s high expectations on safeguarding can be met will now be key.